UK stabbing suspect named, charged with attempted murder
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What we know about Cambridgeshire train stabbings
Passengers travelling from Doncaster to London were attacked in a mass stabbing on a train on Saturday night. Eleven people received treatment in hospital following the attack. Two British men in their 30s were initially arrested while police said there was “nothing to suggest” it was a terror incident. Anthony Williams, 32, from Peterborough was charged on Monday with 10 counts of attempted murder. The other man arrested has been released with no further action. Police are reviewing three further incidents, including the stabbing of a 14-year-old in Peterborough, to establish whether there is a connection between them and the Huntingdon train attack. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the man who committed the crime was “the very worst of humanity” Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the attack was “appalling” and “deeply concerning”, while the King and Queen sent their “deepest sympathy” to those affected. The empty train was seen at the platform on Sunday along with a police presence and forensics tents.
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Passengers travelling from Doncaster to London were attacked in a mass stabbing on a train on Saturday night. Eleven people received treatment in hospital following the attack. One – a member of the train staff – is in a “critical but stable condition”. Two British men in their 30s were initially arrested while police said there was “nothing to suggest” it was a terror incident. Anthony Williams, 32, from Peterborough was charged on Monday with 10 counts of attempted murder. The other man arrested has been released with no further action. Witnesses reported that police used a Taser on one man who was holding a knife. Cambridgeshire police are reviewing three further incidents, including the stabbing of a 14-year-old in Peterborough, to establish whether there is a connection between them and the Huntingdon train attack. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the attack was “appalling” and “deeply concerning”, while the King and Queen sent their “deepest sympathy” to those affected. Thanking the emergency services and bravery of the those onboard in the House of Commons on Monday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the man who committed the crime was “the very worst of humanity”. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said police should be allowed to “triple” the use of stop and search to apprehend people carrying knives. Here is what we know so far.
What do we know about the man charged?
Mr Williams, 32, has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm (ABH) and one count of possession of a bladed article following the knife attack, BTP said on Monday morning. Police said he has also been charged with another count of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in connection with an incident at Pontoon Dock DLR station in the early hours of the same day. The ABH charge is in connection to an alleged assault in a custody suite on a police officer that allegedly resulted in a broken nose for the officer, following the incident at Huntingdon. Williams, of no fixed abode, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday and was remanded in custody. He is due to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on 1 December.
Supplied An image passed to the BBC by someone who witnessed last night’s attack appears to show a suspect being apprehended by police. The red circle outlines the person on the ground behind a set of bins
Where did the stabbings happen?
The attack took place on the 18:25 GMT London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service from Doncaster, South Yorkshire to London’s King’s Cross station. Passengers said one person brandishing a knife began stabbing people on the train after it passed through Peterborough in Cambridgeshire. Cambridgeshire Police received the first call from passengers on board at 19:39, and the British Transport Police (BTP) was also alerted at 19:42.
The train made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon, which is around 15 minutes from Peterborough by train. Armed police boarded the train and arrested the two men within eight minutes of the call to BTP. Police later said a knife was recovered from the scene. A large emergency service response, including air ambulances, attended. The driver of the train, who has since been identified as Andrew Johnson – a former Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy – contacted the control room from his cab to get the train diverted from the fast track to the slow track when the alarm was raised. It meant the train could stop at a platform in Huntingdon.
Uninjured passengers were interviewed by police and some boarded a coach bound for London. Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty told the BBC there were about 10 ambulances, several fire engines and “well over 20 police cars” when he first arrived at the scene just after 21:00. National Rail said the station would remain closed until the end of the day on Monday. The empty train was seen at the platform on Sunday along with a police presence and forensics tents.
Getty Images Emergency crews and police rushed to Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire after 999 calls from the London-bound train
Was he linked to the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy?
Cambridgeshire police are reviewing three further incidents to establish whether there is a connection between them and the Huntingdon train attack. On Friday evening, according to police, a man was seen with a knife at a barbers in Fletton, Peterborough, but the incident was reported two hours after the occurrence. A “crime was raised” but no officers were sent. Police are investigating whether a second incident on Friday evening, in which a 14-year-old was stabbed by a man may also be linked to the train attacks This happened at 19:10 on Friday, police said, and the victim was taken to Peterborough City Hospital with minor injuries and later discharged. On Saturday morning, a second incident was reported by the same barbers with the perpetrator still at the scene, police said. Officers were deployed to the location, and arrived within 18 minutes but were unable to locate the man or identify him and another “crime was raised”. Cambridgeshire police said it has referred itself to the police watchdog for scrutiny of the events. The BBC has obtained a picture of Williams in a barbershop in Peterborough, the evening before the train attack.
What do we know about the victims?
Emergency crews took 10 people to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge – which is some 30 minutes away from the train station – and one person later went to the hospital for treatment. Shortly before 18:00 on Sunday, police said five people had been discharged from hospital and one remained in a “life-threatening condition”. “This casualty is a member of LNER rail staff who was on the train at the time and tried to stop the attacker,” the police said. “Detectives have reviewed the CCTV from the train and it is clear his actions were nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved many people’s lives.” The driver has been identified as Andew Johnson, who said the action he took was “the same as any other driver” “I think my colleagues onboard were the real heroes and I’d like to pay tribute to their bravery.” The 10 people whose attempted murder Mr Williams is charged with include Jonathan Gjoshe, a Scunthorpe United footballer, who was slashed across the bicep and was operated on in hospital, his club said. Another victim, Stephen Crean told the BBC he “tussled” with the attacker, and was slashed him on the head and hand. His left hand is heavily bandaged. On Monday morning, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told BBC Breakfast the staff member was “in hospital in a critical but stable condition”. She added that “the bravery that he showed was utterly remarkable” after putting himself “in harms way”. “There are people who are alive today who wouldn’t be… were it not for his actions.” Alexander also described passengers “hiding in the toilet cubicles” and other carriages as the attack unfolded.
What have eyewitnesses said?
Getty Images Forensics officers were at the scene on Sunday inspecting the empty train on the platform
Witnesses told the BBC of panic and confusion as passengers ran through the carriages, some wounded and bloodied. Alistair Day, 58, told the BBC he hid in the buffet car with about 11 other passengers while the attacker attempted to gain entry. He said one passenger turned to him and calmly said he had been stabbed in the chest: “He had blood all over him, so we put pressure and stuff and held him.” Olly Foster said he heard people shouting “run, there’s a guy stabbing literally everyone and everything” and thought at first it might have been a Halloween prank. He saw an older man with gashes on his head and neck after he “blocked” the attacker from stabbing a younger girl. Passengers used their jackets to try and stanch the bleeding.
“Run, there’s a guy stabbing everyone”: Eyewitnesses describe attack
Nottingham University student Amira Ostalski was on the train with her friend. She said when they got off the train as it came to a stop at Huntingdon she thought she would be safe but then she noticed the man – thought to be the attacker – jumping over a fence and running towards them. “Police came and detained him right in front of my eyes,” she said. Ms Ostalski added she would feel “vulnerable” if she were to sit on a train again.
Watch: Police rush to scene of Cambridgeshire train attack
Reuters Objects scattered across the station floor appeared to include belongings and medical supplies
What is happening with train services?
Man accused of UK train attack charged with 11 counts of attempted murder
Anthony Williams, 32, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday. Prosecutors charged him with 11 counts of attempted murder, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of possession of a bladed article. Eleven of the attempted murder charges were linked to the train attack, while the eleventh was connected to the incident at the London station. Police investigating whether other incidents involving a man with a knife in Peterborough, a city on the train’s route, were linked. Ten people were injured in the mass stabbing on the London-bound train, including a member of the train crew hurt while trying to stop the attack.
Summary 32-year old remanded in custody until next hearing
Suspect charged with attempted murder at London station
Police investigating other knife incidents in Peterborough
Terrorism ruled out in train attack
LONDON, Nov 3 (Reuters) – A British man accused of carrying out a mass stabbing on board a train on Saturday was charged on Monday with 11 counts of attempted murder, including over a separate incident earlier the same day at a train station in east London.
Police said they were also investigating whether there were any links between those incidents and a stabbing in the suspect’s hometown of Peterborough the previous night, as well as two other incidents there.
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Eleven people were injured in the mass stabbing on the London-bound train, including a member of the train crew hurt while trying to stop the attack, who was still in hospital on Monday, in a critical but stable condition.
Anthony Williams, 32, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday and was remanded in custody until his next court hearing on December 1. Prosecutors charged him with 11 counts of attempted murder, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of possession of a bladed article.
Ten of the attempted murder charges were linked to the train attack, British Transport Police said, while the eleventh was connected to the incident at the London station.
Police have ruled out terrorism and said the suspect acted alone. They said they were investigating whether other incidents involving a man with a knife in Peterborough, a city on the train’s route about 100 miles (160 km) north of London, were linked.
“British Transport Police retain primacy for the overall investigation, which will include these three incidents,” Cambridgeshire Police said in a statement.
Officers attended the stabbing of a 14-year-old, who sustained minor injuries, in Peterborough on Friday night, but could not locate the offender, they said. A man also appeared with a knife at a barber’s shop in the south of the city on Friday night, and police were called to the same place on Saturday morning.
Scunthorpe United, an English fifth-tier soccer team, said their player Jonathan Gjoshe was one of the victims of the attack and he remained in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Transport minister Heidi Alexander said on Monday the suspect was not known to security services. She declined to comment on whether he was known to mental health services.
Five of the injured had been discharged from hospital by late on Sunday.
Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; Writing by Sarah Young, Editing by Kate Holton, William James, Peter Graff
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Police investigate four knife incidents possibly linked to Cambridgeshire train attack
Anthony Williams, 32, appeared in court on Monday on a series of attempted murder charges related to two stabbing incidents. British Transport Police had identified Williams as a suspect in an earlier and different knife attack on London’s transport system. BTP said they were hunting for him and had his name, but could not find him before mayhem broke out on a train between Doncaster and London. The investigation into the high-speed train stabbings has expanded to include three earlier incidents alleged to involve knives in and around Peterborough on Friday evening and Saturday morning. A Scunthorpe United footballer, Jonathan Gjoshe, was one of 11 people treated in hospital after the incident. Five remain in hospital including a train guard hailed as a hero for protecting passengers. The train driver, Andrew Johnson, who was praised for diverting the train to Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, where police were able to intervene, spoke for the first time. He was driving the 6.25pm service from Doncaster to London when the violence broke out onboard.
Questions mounted for police as Anthony Williams, 32, appeared in court on Monday on a series of attempted murder charges related to two stabbing incidents.
The Guardian understands that British Transport Police had identified Williams as a suspect in an earlier and different knife attack on London’s transport system before he allegedly boarded the high-speed train on which the mass stabbing took place.
BTP said they were hunting for him and had his name, but could not find him before mayhem broke out on a train between Doncaster and London.
As well as the London incident, the investigation into the high-speed train stabbings has expanded to include three earlier incidents alleged to involve knives in and around Peterborough on Friday evening and Saturday morning.
Williams, from Peterborough, has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder after the stabbings on a train travelling from Doncaster to London on Saturday evening.
He was also charged at Peterborough magistrates court with another count of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in connection to an incident at Pontoon Dock station, which is on the Docklands Light Railway system, in east London on Saturday morning.
BTP said they received a report of the attack at Pontoon Dock at 12.46am on Saturday and that a man received facial injuries from a knife. BTP said the suspect left the location. A BTP spokesperson said: “Police subsequently identified Williams as a suspect and took steps to locate and arrest him.”
0:17 Moment suspect in Huntingdon train attack was arrested – video
BTP’s investigation now includes three other incidents in Peterborough on Friday and Saturday morning. Cambridgeshire police said the first was the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy, who received minor injuries, by a man in Peterborough city centre.
A man was later seen with a knife at a barber’s in Fletton, Peterborough, at 7.25pm on Friday. That incident was reported at 9.10pm to police. The Cambridgeshire force said a crime was recorded but officers were not sent.
Police said that at 9.25am on Saturday officers were called to the same barber’s. They arrived 18 minutes later and could not find the suspect.
View image in fullscreen The barbershop in Fletton, Peterborough, where a man with a knife was seen. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA
Cambridgeshire police said: “We are currently reviewing all incidents in the timeframe to understand whether there were any further potential offences.”
Details have emerged about the victims of the train attack. A Scunthorpe United footballer, Jonathan Gjoshe, was one of 11 people treated in hospital after the incident. Five remain in hospital including a train guard hailed as a hero for protecting passengers.
Williams was remanded in custody after his court hearing and Stuart Cundy, the deputy chief constable of BTP, said: “Our investigation is also looking at other possible linked offences.”
Williams is also charged with one count of actual bodily harm over an alleged attack on a police officer in a custody suite after the train incident.
On Monday the train’s driver, Andrew Johnson, who was praised for diverting the train to Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, where police were able to intervene, spoke for the first time.
He was driving the 6.25pm service from Doncaster to London when the violence broke out onboard. He contacted a signaller and the decision was taken to divert the train.
Johnson said: “As train drivers, we hold a lot of responsibility. We practise our emergency response and keep up to date with our knowledge of the route, so if needed, we know exactly where to stop and what to do.
“The action I took is the same as any other driver. I think my colleagues onboard were the real heroes and I’d like to pay tribute to their bravery.”
1:50 Shabana Mahmood gives update on the Cambridgeshire train stabbing suspect – video
The government has ruled out routinely installing knife arches in rail stations, and in the House of Commons on Monday the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, praised the bravery of police, the emergency services, train staff and passengers.
“I would also like to pay tribute to the breathtaking bravery of those on the train itself, including the heroic acts of the passengers and train crew who intercepted the attacker,” Mahmood said. “I would like to draw particular attention to one member of the onboard crew, who ran towards danger, confronting the attacker for a sustained period of time, and stopped his advance through the train.
“He put himself in harm’s way, suffered grievous injuries as a result, and remains in hospital today, in a critical but stable condition. On Saturday he went to work to do his job. Today he is a hero, and for ever will be.”
Mahmood added: “Since Saturday’s attack, the British Transport Police have increased their presence at key points in the transport network, though it should be noted their operational assessment of the risk posed on our trains has not changed as this was an isolated attack.
“I know that ideas have already been suggested about how policing should change in response to this event. Once the facts are known, we must examine what more might have been done to stop this horrific event from ever occurring, and whether there are measures that we must now take to better protect the public, on our streets and on our trains. However, that must be done when all the facts are available to us.”
Police reviewing three further incidents – including stabbing of boy, 14 – after train knife attack
Anthony Williams has been charged with 11 counts of attempted murder. 32-year-old was remanded in custody on Monday when he appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court. Police are reviewing three further incidents, including the stabbing of a 14- year-old boy. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said police in Cambridgeshire were investigating whether the same man committed “further offences” Earlier, police were called about two train stabbing incidents on 1 November, at Pontoon Dock (12.46am) and Huntingdon (7.42pm) Williams is due to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on 1 December. He allegedly used a “large kitchen knife” in both attacks, according to court documents. He is also accused of attacking a male police officer in custody, leaving him with a ‘broken nose’ Police say armed officers were deployed to Huntingdon on Saturday evening where the LNER train was stopped and detained Williams within eight minutes of the first 999 call.
Anthony Williams has been charged with 11 counts of attempted murder over Saturday’s mass stabbing, and another attack hours earlier at a London station.
The 32-year-old, of no fixed abode, was remanded in custody on Monday when he appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court.
Williams has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm and one count of possession of a bladed article following the attack on the Doncaster to London King’s Cross LNER service.
Read more: ‘Heroic’ train staff commended after mass stabbing as details of victims emerge
Image: Forensic teams gathering evidence at Huntingdon train station on Sunday, after a mass train stabbing. Pic: PA
Earlier, British Transport Police (BTP) said Williams had also been charged with another count of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in connection with an incident on a London train in the early hours of 1 November.
The force said a victim suffered facial injuries after being attacked at 12.46am with a knife on a train at Pontoon Dock station on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) in east London.
The suspect had left the location before police arrived and officers subsequently identified Williams as a suspect, the force added.
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said police in Cambridgeshire were investigating whether the same man committed “further offences” earlier.
Police there said they were looking at a series of incidents on Friday and Saturday, including one in which a teenager was stabbed.
In a statement, Cambridgeshire Constabulary said a barbers in the Fletton area of Peterborough reported a man with a knife on Friday evening, and again on Saturday morning when police were not able to locate the suspect.
A third incident “that police also believe may be linked” involved a 14-year-old who was stabbed on Friday evening by a man with a knife in the city centre, the statement added. The teenager suffered minor injuries.
The force has referred itself to the police watchdog.
British Transport Police will include the stabbing of the 14-year-old and the incident at the barber’s shop as part of its investigation into the train attack.
Image: Police were called about two train stabbing incidents on 1 November, at Pontoon Dock (12.46am) and Huntingdon (7.42pm)
Armed officers were deployed to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on Saturday evening where the LNER train was stopped and detained Williams within eight minutes of the first 999 call.
Footage of his arrest has emerged, showing a man on the ground surrounded by officers and a barking police dog, with the sound of a Taser being deployed.
Another man, also detained, was later released after officers established he was not involved.
Prosecutor: Williams is ‘risk’ to public
Williams wore a grey tracksuit when he appeared in court on Monday in handcuffs. He spoke softly to confirm his details and when asked his address, mumbled “no fixed abode”. He was not asked to enter pleas.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:20 Could we see ‘airport-style’ scanners in train stations?
Opposing bail for Williams, prosecutor Olaide Esan told the hearing: “The defendant has attempted to murder 11 people in total. These are serious allegations. These are very serious offences.
“The defendant is a risk to the trains and to the members of the public.”
He allegedly used a “large kitchen knife” in both attacks, according to court documents.
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The court heard Williams faces an assault charge after allegedly attacking a male police officer in custody, leaving him with a “broken nose”, Ms Olaide said.
Williams is due to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on 1 December.
Image: Armed police officers on patrol at St Pancras International station on Monday morning. Pic: PA
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told Sky News that BTP would be “increasing the visible patrols at stations” over the next few days.
“But generally, our trains are some of the most safest forms of public transport anywhere in the world,” she added.
Huntingdon train stabbing suspect pictured for first time
Huntingdon train stabbing suspect pictured for first time after court appearance. Anthony Williams, 32, charged with 10 counts of attempted murder. Several people were stabbed on an LNER train from Doncaster to London. He is also charged with one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Williams allegedly used a “large kitchen knife” in both attacks, court documents say. He appeared in the dock in handcuffs with four security officers alongside him. He was not asked to enter pleas and when asked his address mumbled “no fixed abode” It is understood he is not known to the security services or counter-terrorism policing.
Pictures obtained by the Mirror show the 32-year-old suspect
View 2 Images Police on the platform by the train at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire. (Image: Chris Radburn/PA Wire)
A man charged over a mass stabbing on a busy train in Cambridgeshire and a separate attack at a London station earlier that day has been pictured.
Anthony Williams, 32, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with 10 counts of attempted murder after several people were stabbed on an LNER train from Doncaster to London on Saturday.
He is also charged with one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of possession of a bladed article.
Separately, Williams is charged with one count of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article over an incident at Pontoon Dock DLR station in the early hours of Saturday.
In that incident, a victim – named in court as Isaiah Ishmael Idris – suffered facial injuries.
Williams allegedly used a “large kitchen knife” in both attacks, according to court documents.
He appeared in the dock in handcuffs with four security officers alongside him, and spoke softly to confirm his name, age and address. He was not asked to enter pleas and when asked his address mumbled “no fixed abode”.
It is understood he is not known to the security services or counter-terrorism policing, and had not been referred to the Government anti-extremism scheme Prevent.
View 2 Images Anthony Williams has been charged with ten counts of attempted murder. (Image: Mirror)
Opposing bail for Williams, prosecutor Olaide Esan told the hearing: “The defendant has attempted to murder 11 people in total.
“These are serious allegations. These are very serious offences,” she added.
“The defendant is a risk to the trains and to the members of the public.”
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The assault charge Williams faces relates to him allegedly attacking a male police officer in custody after being arrested, leaving him with a “broken nose”, Ms Olaide said.
Williams has been charged with the attempted murder of Scott Bletcher; Michael Paffett; Kevin Deely; Jonathan Gjoshe; David Presland; Sachin Balakrishnan; Stephen Crean; Samir Zitouni; Rasza Aslam and Scott Green.
District judge Ken Sheraton remanded Williams into custody to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on December 1.